President Obama Pays Respects to Fallen Troops at Dover Air Force Base

October 29, 2009

By ABCNEWS.COM

Sunlen Miller and Jake Tapper report:

DOVER, DEL. -- Earlier this year President Obama lifted the 18-year ban on media coverage of the return of fallen soldiers to Dover, a ban critics said hid the costs of war from the American people. Thursday morning President Obama -- who is weighing new strategy in Afghanistan -- saw those costs up close.

President Obama made an unscheduled, overnight trip to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware overnight to observe up close a "solemn dignified transfer movement," the event which marks the return to the US of the remains of fallen service members.

Military and White House officials said this particular movement involved the incoming remains of 15 service members and 3 Drug Enforcement Administration agents who were killed in Afghanistan on October 26th. This is the first time President Obama has participated in this type of military event. The president also met with the families of the fallen.

The president arrived at Dover AFB at 12:34am after 40-minute chopper ride from the White House. An Air Force C-17 carrying the 18 fallen U.S. personnel had arrived at Dover before the president. Among the dead on board were 7 U.S. Army soldiers and 3 DEA agents killed when their MH-47 Chinook crashed at Darreh-ye-bum, and 8 U.S. soldiers killed when their STRYKER personnel vehicle was struck by IED blast in the Arghandab River Valley.

It was a somber event.

The military confirmed the name of only one of the soldiers whose transfer the President witnessed: Sgt Dale R. Griffin, from Terre Haute, Indiana, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom.

At 3:39 am the President walked up the ramp of the C-17 to attend a short prayer given by Major Richard S. Bach, an Air Force chaplain. Obama emerged minutes later, the last in a line of personnel, and stood at attention in the cool night breeze, his hands cupped at his side.

At 3:50 am the flag-draped transfer case--not a coffin or casket--was carried from the plane to a waiting vehicle while all those participating saluted.

Griffin's family gave permission for the media to cover the transfer.

The three DEA agents killed were identified as 37-year-old Forrest Leamon and 30-year-old Chad Michael, both from Virginia, and 37-year-old Michael Weston of Washington. Weston, like Obama, was a Harvard Law School graduate.

Obama's participation in this sad military tradition comes at a critical time for the President, as he weighs sending as many as 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan. President Obama continues to deliberate with his commanders and advisors and will likely announce his decision after the Afghan elections on November 7 and before he departs for Asia on November 11, though the announcement could come after he returns from the Asia trip.

The president, sources said, is leaning towards adopting a strategy that would send more troops to Afghanistan, though not 40,000, the number Gen. Stanley McChrystal has requested.

The dignified transfer is not considered a "ceremony" by the military, rather, it is considered a "solemn movement" of the transfer case carrying a soldiers' remains. A team of six military personnel from the fallen member's respective service carry the case and a senior flag officer attends every transfer.

A dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation while in the service of their country.

The official party this night consists of President Barack Obama, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, DEA Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart, U.S. Army Assistant Judge Advocate Maj Gen Daniel Wright, U.S. Army Special Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Michael Repass, and Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center Col. Robert Edmondson, who will serve as the Dignified Transfer Host Officer.

The president returned to the White House at 4:43am.

-- Sunlen Miller reported from Dover, Del., with Jake Tapper at the White House